Sustainable Energy Unit at the Horticultural Development Centre

A Sustainable Energy Unit made up of a 320kW biomass boiler integrated with ten 2.5m2 solar thermal panels.

Solar energy will be used to pre-heat water before the main biomass boiler. During the summer months, as very little heating is used, the solar element of the unit will provide sufficient heat for the needs of the glasshouse complex. In the winter, the biomass boiler will shoulder the majority of the energy provision.

The average consumption of heating oil in the HDC during the six years from 2000 to 2005 was around 70,000 litres.

Based on an oil price of £0.50 per litre, the annual fuel bill is approximately £35,000.

To fully replace the heating oil with biomass would require around 180 tonnes of wood chip at around 15 percent moisture content.

At a price of £85 per tonne of wood chip delivered, the annual cost would be £15,300.

This represents a saving over oil of almost £20,000 or around 60 percent reduction in fuel costs. In addition, the contribution from the solar panels will further increase the annual savings.

In total, savings approaching 200 tonnes of CO2 each year are anticipated.